Friday, September 10, 2010

HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (09-10-10)

Not surprisingly, KAT VON D is denying that she's pregnant with JESSE JAMES' baby. Her rep says, quote, "They've only been dating for a few weeks. She is not pregnant. That's absolutely absurd."

HULK HOGAN IS GOING TO MARRY HIS GIRLFRIEND SOON:

HULK HOGAN was released from the hospital yesterday . . . after tearing up his back last weekend while COLLECTING SEASHELLS. And he said his recent trip to the hospital has inspired him to make The Big Mistake with his girlfriend Jennifer. --He said, quote, "Now that I've had that close encounter with the other side, I'm gonna move this wedding up, I'm gonna be marrying Jennifer right away."(--Here's video . . .)http://www.tmz.com/videos?autoplay=true&mediaKey=712b91eb-86f2-44ae-869b-8581830db320

DOES LINDSAY LOHAN WANT A BABY???

This report comes to us from "In Touch Weekly", and it's really too silly to be true. But the implications are so frightening that it's worth discussing . . . --Sources say that LINDSAY LOHAN thinks the best way to stay sober and tame her wicked ways is to HAVE A BABY. -A baby would solve Lindsay's problems in two ways: First, she'd have to stay sober to take care of the kid. --And second, Lindsay is the type of person who needs to be around someone all the time. Usually, she fills that need in the wrong way . . . like by hanging out with bad people and hitting clubs at night. --But a baby can provide the company she craves, and won't lead her astray like one of her usual hangers-on would. --Plus, Lindsay has seen what having kids has done for former celebu-skank NICOLE RICHIE. --A so-called "source" says, quote, "Lindsay thinks having a baby could straighten out her life."

WILL LINDSAY LOHAN DO OPRAH???

This is far from official, but so-called "sources" say LINDSAY LOHAN is close to a deal to appear on "Oprah" . . . which begins its final season on Monday. --A rep for the show refused to confirm or deny the talks, but said, quote, "Nothing has been planned."

DINA LOHAN'S HOUSE HAS BEEN VANDALIZED TWICE IN ONE WEEK:

DINA LOHAN'S Long Island home has been vandalized twice in one week. --On August 31st, someone pelted the front door with eggs and threw dirt bombs at the side of the house. Then this past Monday, somebody pulled her mailbox out of the ground. --Police are investigating, but they don't have any suspects yet. (--Check out some pics here . . .)http://photos.tmz.com/galleries/dina_lohan_egged#tab=most_recent

BRITNEY SPEARS is denying the claims by her former bodyguard, Fernando Flores, that she sexually harassed him and abused her children. --A message posted on her website yesterday says, quote, "This lawsuit is another unfortunate situation where someone is trying to take advantage of the Spears family and make a name for himself. --"The Department of Children and Family Services conducted a proper investigation surrounding Mr. Flores' accusations and have closed the case without any further action. --"Ms. Spears and her attorneys have every expectation that this matter will be dismissed by the courts." --Meanwhile, KEVIN FEDERLINE has his ex-wife's back. K-Fed's attorney says that they knew of Flores' accusations a while back. They checked them out, and decided they were BOGUS. --He adds, quote, "[Kevin] is satisfied that the allegations are a product of economic motives. They are as baseless as they seem."

THE HOTEL WHERE VINCE NEIL ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTED A WOMAN IN AN ELEVATOR SAYS IT NEVER HAPPENED:

MOTLEY CRUE singer VINCE NEIL is still under investigation for allegedly assaulting a woman Sunday night in an elevator at the Las Vegas Hilton. --But the Hilton is on Vince's side . . . and they claim they have surveillance footage that clears him. --The hotel says, quote, "As we always do for the protection and security of our guests, we have conducted our own investigation of this incident. --"After reviewing surveillance video and interviewing witnesses, we've concluded that her allegations against Vince Neil are completely unfounded. --"We also understand that the local authorities have deemed her allegations to be without merit. Accordingly, we consider the matter closed." --But Las Vegas Police have NOT decided that the woman's allegations are without merit. At least not publicly. They say the case is still open, although no charges have been filed yet. --They are in possession of the Hilton surveillance footage. But it's not clear if they've looked at it yet. --Meanwhile, the alleged victim . . . one Jessica Radovicz . . . gave her story to TMZ.--Jessica claims that Vince flipped out when she got into the elevator with him and asked, quote, "Excuse me sir, don't I know you from somewhere? Aren't you on TV?" --She says, quote, "All of the sudden he yelled at me, grabbed me by the arms, he threw me against the wall." --Vince then proceeded to call her names. She says, quote, "[When] I got out of the elevator I was extremely upset and extremely shooken up. (--You can check out video of Jessica's statement . . . in which she also shows off her bruises . . . here . . .)http://www.tmz.com/videos?autoplay=true&mediaKey=69a5aac0-eea0-4e1a-83af-ee8522c1f9ec

DEMI LOVATO HAS QUIT TWITTER:

DEMI LOVATO is the latest celebrity to ditch her Twitter account. We think. --Yesterday afternoon, she Tweeted, quote, "About to say goodbye to Twitter . . . I love my fans so much but the access that other people have is uncomfortable to me." --Then she added, quote, "Twitterbreak. Peace." --However . . . Demi did NOT delete her page. And AFTER she signed off for her supposed "Twitterbreak", she Tweeted a shout-out to Eva Longoria. (--If you'd like to keep an eye on Demi's page to see if she does indeed take a break, here's the address . . .) http://twitter.com/ddlovato

ONE OF THE INDIAN GUYS FROM "THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN" IS ON TRIAL FOR STABBING HIS GIRLFRIEND 20 TIMES:

SHELLEY MALIL . . . who played the younger of STEVE CARELL'S Indian co-workers in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" . . . is on trial for attempted murder, because he allegedly stabbed his girlfriend 20 TIMES in August of 2008. --Well, he took the stand yesterday, and said he did it by MISTAKE. --See, when Shelley went to his girlfriend's house that night, there was another guy there. Tempers flared, chaos erupted and . . . according to Shelley, he thought the guy was attacking him so he retaliated. --He claims he thought he was stabbing the guy, because it was dark. -He said, quote, "I'm sorry . . . I had no idea. I saw the pictures [of her wounds] for the first time, I was stunned. When I look at those pictures, I still can't believe the knife I was holding was responsible for all those injuries."(--If you care, you can read about the gory details in "People" here . . .)http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20420401,00.html

TOM BRADY was involved in a pretty bad car accident yesterday morning in Boston, but he's okay. One of the other people involved wasn't so lucky, though. --Tom's Audi collided with a minivan at an intersection shortly before 7:00 A.M. The driver of the van was okay, but a 49-year-old male passenger was knocked unconscious. --He had to be removed with the JAWS OF LIFE and taken to the hospital. His injuries were said to be serious, but not life-threatening. --The accident was NOT Tom's fault. The van driver ran a red light and crossed in front of Tom, who had the green. Tom even tried to swerve to get out of his way. --It turns out this guy . . . the 21-year-old son of the man who was hospitalized . . . has multiple moving violations on his record, and he's had his license suspended at least FIVE TIMES in the last three years. --Brady was well enough to practice with the Patriots yesterday afternoon, and nobody's saying anything about him missing their opening game on Sunday at home against the Bengals. --Tom's agent released a statement saying, quote, "I want to thank the safety personnel for their service, and express our concern and support for the well-being of the occupants of the other vehicle."(--TMZ posted some video from right after the accident . . . before any emergency personnel even showed up. Check it out here . .) (--WARNING!!! This video is slightly graphic. You can see the unconscious man, and there's a little bit of blood on his head . )http://www.tmz.com/2010/09/09/tom-brady-car-crash-photo-boston-new-england-patriots/

(--Brady got some GOOD news later in the day yesterday. He signed a four-year contract extension with the Patriots. The deal is worth $72 million . . . and $48.5 million of that is guaranteed salary.) (--That makes Tom the highest-paid player in NFL history.)

FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF BEATING UP HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND:

Boxer FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. has been accused of beating up Josie Harris . . . his ex-girlfriend and the mother of three of his children. --Harris called police at about 5:00 A.M. yesterday morning, claiming that Floyd hit her during an argument at her Las Vegas home. --Police have yet to speak with Floyd, and no charges have been filed yet. --Harris made similar accusations against Floyd in 2003 . . . but the charges were dropped two years later, when Harris admitted she LIED because she was angry that Floyd had left her for another woman. --Floyd has at least one supporter in the public arena: 50 CENT. 50 Tweeted yesterday that he'd just talked to Floyd, and he believes Harris is FULL OF IT. --He said, quote, "Another case of angry baby mama wanting money . . . She's claiming he hit her but has no bruises. Floyd went to see his kids last night if a fighter of floyd caliber hits u, u would b bruised." --He added, quote, "I talked to him before and after the situation he wasn't even upset. He said he asked her why was the house so dirty she started trippin'."

THE FOURTH "RESIDENT EVIL" HITS THEATERS TODAY . . . ALONG WITH THE JOAQUIN PHOENIX MOCKUMENTARY AND THE NEW KATIE HOLMES MOVIE:

#1.) "Resident Evil: Afterlife" (R) (It's also playing in 3D, if that's your thing.) --This is the fourth film in the "Resident Evil" series. Milla Jovovich once again plays Alice, the only human to ever successfully bond with the T-virus that's turning everyone else into zombies. In this one, she hunts down the head of the Umbrella Corporation. --Ali Larter, who played survivor Claire Redfield in "Resident Evil: Extinction", is also back for this movie . . . and "Prison Break's" Wentworth Miller gets to play her brother.Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly_izxQsHIAOfficial Site: http://www.residentevil-movie.com/

#2.) "I'm Still Here" (Not Rated) (Limited)

--The documentary about Joaquin Phoenix's supposed attempt to "find himself" and become a rapper that was filmed by his brother-in-law Casey Affleck. --It culminated in a bizarre appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman", and according to the "L.A. Times" the film also includes Joaquin being defecated on and, quote, "more male frontal nudity than you'd find in some gay porn films." (--Here's that CLASSIC clip of Joaquin on "Letterman" . . . which ends with Letterman telling him, quote, "I'm sorry you couldn't be here tonight" . . .)Joaquin and Letterman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENJr98KXs5g(--And here's an amusing clip of Joaquin talking with Diddy about film money . . .)Joaquin and Diddy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSUemAg-Ks4Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFawjKrxz-MOfficial Site: http://www.imstillheremovie.com/

#3.) "The Romantics" (PG-13) (Limited)

--Katie Holmes plays a bridesmaid trying to avoid getting sucked into a love triangle with her ex-boyfriend on the night before his wedding. "True Blood" minx Anna Paquin plays the bride and Josh Duhamel is the groom. --The cast includes Elijah Wood, "The O.C.'s" Adam Brody, and blonde "Glee" minx Diana Agron . . . who's still hoping to get Katie to guest star on next season's "Glee".Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-sgWHXJfZ4Official Site: http://www.theromanticsmovie.com/

--A comedy about a skinny geek's misguided attempts to lose his virginity, while being recorded by his group of dorky friends. It doesn't star anyone you've heard of, but it was produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, the team behind "Anchorman", "Talladega Nights", "Step Brothers", and "The Other Guys".Red Band Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK23H_CLTTgOfficial Site: http://www.thevirginityhit.com/

MTV IS PLANNING TWO "JERSEY SHORE" TV SPECIALS:

Perhaps not surprisingly, MTV wants to capitalize on the surging popularity of "Jersey Shore" by adding two TV specials to the end of the show's second season. (--"Jersey Shore" averaged 2.7 million viewers in its first season. The most-watched episode was the season finale, which attracted 4.8 million viewers.) (--Every Season Two episode has eclipsed that. Through six episodes, this season is averaging 5.6 million viewers. The ratings for last night's episode aren't in yet, but last week's episode drew a series-high 6.5 million viewers.) --The first special will be a "cast reunion show." It'll air on October 28th. (--The Season Two finale will air either the week before, or on October 14th. A date hasn't been officially announced. Season Three will begin sometime next year.) --MTV will also air a "behind-the-scenes" special, but there's no airdate for that yet.

"JERSEY SHORE" HAS MADE "GUIDO" A NEW BUZZ WORD:

For better or worse, "Jersey Shore" has popularized the term "guido," which of course is a negative slang word for young Italian-Americans, but is used flippantly . . . if not endearingly . . . on the show --A research company called The Global Language Monitor has published a report saying that "guido" is one of the most-used new words of the 2009-2010 TV season. --It's actually THIRD, behind "BP Spillcam" (???) . . . the live-camera underwater feeds of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico . . . and "dysfunctional," which was apparently popularized by the ABC comedy "Modern Family". -The company used some kind of complex math formula to determine this . . . using data on the frequency of words like these on the Internet and in print media. --Other terms that charted high on the list are: "Lady Gaga" . . . "rude," which supposedly came out of talk of SIMON COWELL leaving "American Idol" . . . and "nice," which became a buzz word because of BETTY WHITE. --The Global Language Monitor "explains," quote, "The word 'nice' is associated with Betty White over 1.1 million times on Google." (--OK . . .) --Last year's top new term was "Obamavision." (--I'm having trouble wrapping my head around how this works, but I do know that I'm hearing "guido" a LOT more since "Jersey Shore" premiered. In any event, you can find the complete Top 14 list, here . . . )http://www.languagemonitor.com/television-words/top-telewords-of-the-20092010-season/

SNOOKI SAYS SHE'S NOT A "LINDSAY LOHAN WANNABE":

SNOOKI has responded to a judge's assertion that she's acting like a, quote, "LINDSAY LOHAN wannabe." And she says that's not true. --Snooki tells "People" magazine, quote, "I definitely thought it was harsh. I never drank and drove, I don't do drugs . . . I do nothing that Lindsay does, so it was definitely a little overboard." --But she adds, quote, "I'm over it."

MISCHA BARTON FEELS RESPONSIBLE FOR RUINING TV:

MISCHA BARTON believes that her old show "The O.C." is responsible for DESTROYING more than her own life . . . OK, I made that part up . . . she thinks it RUINED TV. . . at least for people who hate shows like "The Hills". -She says, quote, "As fun as ['The O.C.'] was and cool as it was, it spawned all these reality TV shows like 'The Real O.C.' and 'The Real Laguna' or whatever. --"That's gotten a bit out of control. For me, it's a bit funny because I feel like I almost aided the problem for young girls and for that genre."

LOU REED SAYS HE DID *NOT* REJECT SUSAN BOYLE:

SUSAN BOYLE canceled a planned performance on "America's Got Talent" on Wednesday night at the last minute . . . but it was NOT because LOU REED refused to clear her to perform his song, "Perfect Day". (--The fine journalists over at TMZ had Susan BURSTING INTO TEARS after she was informed that Lou was going to block her performance . . . basically because he hated her.) --One of Lou's reps tells "Access Hollywood" that it didn't go down like that. --Instead, Lou's people say the show asked for clearance to use the song . . . seemingly at the last minute . . . and he consented, but apparently the paperwork couldn't go through in time. --A rep for Susan says that Susan was looking forward to the performance . . . and was upset that it didn't end up happening. (--For the record, Susan's "Perfect Day" cover is expected to appear on her next album, "The Gift", which will hit stores on November 29th.)

WEEKEND TV REMINDERS

(--Check your local listing for times in your area.)FRIDAY TV REMINDERS:

--"20/20" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on ABC. (--Barbara Walters examines the rare disease known as progeria that causes children to age rapidly when she focuses on the two girls profiled in TLC's 2009 documentary "6 Going on 60".)

--"The World of Jenks" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 11:00 to 11:30 P.M. on MTV. (--A guy named Andrew Jenks moves in with strangers to experience a week of their lives. Up first is a week spent with rapper Maino.)

(--Other episodes will include sleeping on the street with the homeless, hanging on the sidelines with a cheerleader, and mixing it up with a mixed martial arts fighter.)

A JONAS BROTHERS CONCERT HAS BEEN CANCELED BECAUSE OF HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODING . . . IS GOD TICKED OFF AT JOE JONAS???

The JONAS BROTHERS were supposed to perform at the 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre . . . (???) . . . in Tampa Bay on Wednesday night, but the show was canceled because of heavy rain and flooding. --It was a last minute decision that was made because a significant portion of the seating area was under over a foot of water. A ton of screaming fans . . . and parents that drove them . . . had already arrived, and had to be turned away. --NICK JONAS was at the venue . . . which, once again, is called the 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre (??????) . . . and posted a video of the flooding on Twitter. (--It's pretty bad. You can see for yourself in the video below. But be sure to lower the volume on your computer first . . . the screaming fans are DEAFENING . . .)http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/9439226--For now, there are no plans to reschedule the show, since it was the "fault" of the venue and not the Jonas Brothers. (--Refunds have been made available.) --But the REAL question here is: Was it really the fault of the venue . . . or was this GOD'S doing . . . as a way of punishing JOE JONAS for taking off his purity ring??? --This week, "Life & Style" reported that Joe is no longer saving himself for marriage, and is basically living in sin with his girlfriend, "Twilight" minx ASHLEY GREENE.

JUSTIN BIEBER ALMOST GOT IN TROUBLE FOR THROWING A WATER BALLOON AT A COP'S CROTCH:

JUSTIN BIEBER can get away with a TON of stuff REGULAR 16-year-olds can't . . . and now, there's something new to add to that list: Throwing water balloons at cops' CROTCHES. (!!!) -Yes, it did happen . . . although he almost DIDN'T get away with it. --Justin was throwing water balloons around backstage before his concert at the Maryland State Fair last Sunday. Specifically, he was targeting the CROTCHES of some of his crew. --But then he made the ill-advised decision to target some Maryland state troopers, who were there for crowd control. Justin hit one of them in the stomach, but the balloon didn't break. He hit the other in the belt, and it broke . . . soaking his crotch. --Supposedly, the cop was NOT happy about it . . . so Justin ended his balloon-throwing, and went back to his trailer. Meanwhile, Justin's bodyguard smoothed everything over with the cop. --A Maryland state police spokesperson said Justin's behavior was, quote, "inappropriate" . . . but said that the officer did not file a report, so no action will be taken against Justin. --If there WAS any chance of repercussions, it doesn't sound like Justin took it that seriously. After the show, he Tweeted, quote, "Still laughing. GREAT DAY."

"BILLBOARD'S" TOP 10 SONGS OF THE SUMMER:

"Billboard" has put out a list of the Top 10 Songs of the Summer . . . and unless you were cryogenically frozen for the past three months . . . it can't be surprising that KATY PERRY'S "California Gurls" came in at #1.

CHRIS BROWN'S MOTHER HAS APOLOGIZED FOR HER CONTROVERSIAL TWEET ABOUT CHRIS AND MICHAEL JACKSON:

CHRIS BROWN'S mother, Joyce Hawkins, has apologized for a "controversial" comment she made Wednesday on Twitter. --Joyce said . . . using all caps . . . quote, "MICHAEL JACKSON DIED SO THAT CHRIS BROWN COULD LIVE!!!" Clearly, whatever she was TRYING to say wasn't coming across, and some people flipped out at her for saying it. --Well, yesterday Joyce deleted the message . . . apologized . . . and attempted to explain what she meant. In a new Tweet, she said that she meant, quote, "Chris would carry on Michael's legacy." --And she told "USA Today", quote, "I'm so sorry that the Tweet I sent was misunderstood. What I meant to say is that Chris has always been inspired by Michael Jackson's music and his career." (--Uh . . . was anyone getting that???)

JAY-Z HAS SIGNED NINE-YEAR-OLD WILLOW SMITH TO A RECORD DEAL:

WILL and JADA PINKETT SMITH are now the proud parents of TWO child stars . . . and both of them are YOUNGER than JUSTIN BIEBER. --First 12-year-old JADEN starred in the new "Karate Kid" movie . . . and now JAY-Z has signed nine-year-old WILLOW to a record deal on his Roc Nation label. --This comes just TWO DAYS after Willow's debut song, "Whip My Hair", leaked online, and blazed its way through the Internet. --In a radio interview yesterday . . . (--with Ryan Seacrest) . . . Jay-Z said he knew "Whip My Hair" and its singer were GOLD the moment he heard the song. --He said, quote, "I was like, 'Man, that record's a smash.' And then [my Roc Nation partner] Jay Brown said, 'She's 9,' and I was like, 'Whoa!' And [then] he was like, 'She's Will and Jada's daughter,' and I was like, 'Whoa!' and it just went from there." --Jay-Z said he was immediately impressed with Willow the minute he met her. -He explained, quote, "She walked in and the first thing she said was, 'I'm really nervous,' and I thought, 'That's maturity to explain exactly how she was feeling when she walked right into the room.' I knew right then she was a star." (??? (--Wow, for real? Jay-Z sounds like a FASCINATING talent evaluator!!! Is there still a seat open at the "American Idol" judges' table???) --Jay-Z also said he doesn't want to get too carried away yet, but he thinks Willow could be the next . . . MICHAEL JACKSON. --He said, quote, "I don't want to go so far, but I can imagine that's how [Michael] was as a young kid . . . he knew exactly what he wanted. --"I believe that you have to start somewhere, and when you have that sort of talent and vision, there's no such thing as too young. --"Again, I heard the record without knowing who it was . . . we all danced to Michael Jackson records when he was eight [years old]. Stevie Wonder started at eight . . . it's just what it is, who she is."

T.I. NOW HAS A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN POTENTIALLY RETURNING TO PRISON . . . ASSUMING YOU RECOGNIZE THE LACK OF DEODORANT AS A BIG PROBLEM:

T.I. is in limbo as he waits to find out how his recent arrest for allegedly possessing ECSTASY will impact his probation status. --There's a very real chance that his probation could be revoked, and he'll be sent back to prison. But T.I. has a bigger problem than that right now . . . that's assuming you recognize the lack of deodorant as a big problem. --T.I. signed a deal to promote AXE body spray earlier this year . . . after promising the company that he was, quote, "working to become a more positive role model." --Well, getting arrested for suspicion of drug possession wasn't part of AXE's interpretation of being "a more positive role model" . . . so they're thinking about dumping T.I. But they haven't made a decision yet. --A rep for AXE released a statement saying, quote, "We are troubled by this arrest. In order to preserve the legal process, AXE will comment at a later time, as appropriate. In the meantime, we are reviewing our promotional activities."(--As of last night, T.I. was still prominently featured on the AXE site, here . . .)http://www.theaxeeffect.com/

NAZZY’S RANDOM STUFF

A WOMAN'S RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS AT A GROCERY STORE TURNS INTO $100,000 FOR CHARITY:

Last summer, Carolee Hazard of Menlo Park, California, was in line to buy groceries at Trader Joe's. The woman in front of her was named Jenni Ware, and Jenni had forgotten her wallet. --So Carolee decided to help Jenni out . . . even though she was a total stranger . . . and paid for all $207 of Jenni's groceries. --The next day, Jenni paid Carolee back . . . but gave her $300, or $93 more than Carolee had spent on her. So Carolee went to Facebook and asked her friends what she should do with the extra money. --Some people suggested charity, and Carolee liked that. So she decided to match the $93 with $93 of her own, and donated $186 to the local Second Harvest Food Bank. She told her Facebook friends that was her plan.--And then . . . they sprang into action. One friend decided to match the $93. Then another. Then another. People started reposting what was happening to THEIR friends on Facebook. That led to more people donating.--Within a year, Carolee's "93 Dollar Club" had raised more than $100,000 to donate to the food bank. --Now, she's going to push to raise $200,000. Quote, "That amount will provide 400,000 meals or enough to feed 100 families of four for a year." (Shine by Yahoo)

HIGHWAY DEATHS ARE AT THEIR LOWEST POINT SINCE 1950:

I don't know about you, but most of the time I feel like everyone else on the road is a complete LUNATIC who should have their license revoked for the good of mankind. But according to some new statistics, it's not QUITE that bad. --The U.S. Department of Transportation just released the numbers on highway traffic deaths for 2009. And it turns out our roads are the safest they've been in SIXTY years. --There were 33,808 traffic deaths last year. That's the lowest number since 1950 . . . when people were driving Studebakers to the soda shop for a malt and some necking. --And, since we drive a lot more now than we did in 1950 . . . in terms of the number of drivers and how much we're in our cars . . . the rate of deaths per the number of miles driven has hit an all-time low.

--There were 1.13 deaths per 100 million miles in 2009, the lowest of all time.

--Auto safety experts say there are FOUR main reasons traffic fatalities are at an all-time low:

#1.) More people than ever are using seatbelts.

#2.) Side air bags, anti-rollover technology, and other advances in safety.

#3.) States are more focused on stopping drunk drivers.

#4.) The economy is keeping more people home on the weekends instead of out drinking. (ABC News)

CHECK OUT THE FIVE THINGS PARENTS WORRY ABOUT THE MOST . . . AND THE FIVE THINGS THEY ACTUALLY *SHOULD* WORRY ABOUT:

Christie Barnes is the author of a book called "The Paranoid Parents Guide", and she asked tons of parents what their biggest worries are. Then, she compared their top five worries to the top five ways kids are ACTUALLY hurt or killed. --Here's what she found: The five things parents worry about the most are COMPLETELY different than the five biggest dangers to children. --The five things parents worry about the most are: Kidnapping . . . school shootings . . . terrorists . . . dangerous strangers . . . and drugs. --And the five things most responsible for children being hurt or killed are: Car accidents . . . homicide, almost always by a person who knows the child and not a stranger . . . abuse . . . suicide . . . and drowning. --Christie says the divide is because the news focuses on the rare events that FREAK parents out. So a kidnapping will be the top story on the news . . . but a child dying in a car crash probably wouldn't even make the broadcast. --She says, quote, "I'd love it if every news story came with a little warning at the bottom that said, 'Even though this is very tragic, this [only has] a one in 10 million, one in a million or one in 20 [chance of happening]." --In her research, she found the BEST thing you can do to keep your kids safe is to make them wear helmets when they bike and skateboard, and make them wear seatbelts in the car. --That'll cut down on your kid's chance of dying by 90% and of getting seriously hurt by 78%. (NPR)

HERE ARE YOUR ODDS OF DYING FROM CANCER, LIGHTNING, A PLANE CRASH, AND OTHER THINGS:

--Heart disease: 1 in 6.

--Cancer: 1 in 7.

--Stroke: 1 in 28.

--Car accident: 1 in 85.

--Suicide: 1 in 115.

--Accidentally being exposed to toxic substances or poison: 1 in 139.

--Falling: 1 in 184.

--Getting shot: 1 in 300.

--Drowning: 1 in 1,073.

--Plane crash: 1 in 5,862. (--This figure made plane crashes seem a bit too common to us, but when you consider that it involves all types of aviation, not just commercial airliners, it makes more sense.)

--Contact with hornets, wasps or bees: 1 in 62,950.

--Struck by lightning: 1 in 81,701.

--Earthquake: 1 in 153,597.

--Getting possessed by Satan: 1 in 537,212. (--That's based on the current rate of about 37,500 exorcisms being performed annually in the U.S.) (NSC / "Life: The Odds" by Gregory Baer)

CHEFS NEVER ORDER PASTA OR CHICKEN AT A RESTAURANT, THEY LOVE WENDY'S . . . AND FIVE OTHER SECRETS THEY'LL NEVER TELL YOU:

"Food Network Magazine" just published the results of an anonymous survey of top chefs all over the U.S. Top chefs meaning really good, high-profile chefs, not contestants on the reality show. Here are some secrets they found . . .

#1.) Chefs will almost never order chicken or pasta when they're eating out. Those are usually the most overpriced and least interesting items on the menu.

#3.) Vegetarian doesn't always mean vegetarian. 15% of the chefs surveyed said that their vegetarian dishes aren't always perfectly meat-free, and might be cooked in chicken stock or use some beef fat or something.

#4.) Chefs are more impressed by food critics than celebrities or randy customers. 71% of chefs give special treatment to critics . . . 63% give it to celebrities . . . and more than half have seen patrons getting-it-on in the bathroom.

#5.) Kitchens are clean, but do have roaches. 75% of chefs say they've seen a roach in the kitchen . . . but 85% rated their kitchens an eight out of 10 or higher for cleanliness.

#6.) They aren't making a fortune. 65% of chefs make less than $75,000-a-year.

#7.) More chefs prescribe to the five-second rule than you'd want. 25% of the chefs, or one out of four, say they've cooked food that fell on the floor. (Yahoo)

THREE OUT OF FIVE YOUNG ADULTS HAVE NO IDEA WHO COLONEL SANDERS IS:

Look, I understand that today's young people don't know their history very well. They think Samuel Adams is a beer and "Nazi" is just a generic term to describe anyone who's mean to you. It's fine. They're lazy. We get it. --But THIS lack of knowledge is just shocking and appalling. According to a new survey by KFC, more than 60% of people aged 18 to 25 have no idea who the guy is in the KFC logo. That's right: They don't recognize COLONEL SANDERS. --When KFC asked the 18-to-25-year-olds direct questions about Colonel Sanders, 30% had never heard of him and 50% thought he was a made-up icon like Mr. Peanut. --In case you're one of the people who don't know, KFC was founded by COLONEL HARLAND SANDERS. And yes, he did have white hair, a white beard, a white suit, black glasses, and a string tie. --He developed his recipe for fried chicken around age 40, franchised his restaurants at age 65, and sold his company at age 74. He died at age 90 . . . and he would've turned 120 years old yesterday. --KFC has started a new marketing push to get young people informed about the Colonel, because they say, quote, "They didn't get to see and experience him like other generations did. We celebrate the fact that our founder was a real person." (USA Today)

HERE ARE EIGHT THINGS EMPLOYERS AREN'T ALLOWED TO ASK YOU DURING A JOB INTERVIEW:

Investopedia put together this list of eight questions that are TOTALLY out-of-bounds in a job interview. So remember them . . . because if an employer asks you one and doesn't hire you, at least you can make some money by suing them, right?

#1.) How old are you? They can only ask if you're over 18. Any other questions fall under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967.

#2.) Are you married? They can't even try to figure it out by asking "Do you prefer Mrs. or Miss?"

#3.) Are you a U.S. citizen? They can't find out your citizenship status until after they hire you and have you complete an Employment Eligibility Verification form.

#4.) Do you have any disabilities?

#5.) Do you take drugs, smoke or drink? Whether they're trying to figure out if you're a health risk . . . or if you'd be a fun time at happy hour . . . these questions are out-of-bounds.

A WOMAN CAUGHT SHOPLIFTING AT WAL-MART SWINGS HER BABY CARRIER . . . WITH THE BABY IN IT . . . AT OFFICERS:

Shoplifting when you've got a newborn baby with you is a bad decision. You want to know how to make it exponentially worse? Do what this woman did. --On Wednesday, 28-year-old Billie Goode of New Hartford, New York, was at Wal-Mart with two friends and her three-week-old daughter. And Billie and her friends decided to shoplift more than $1,100 in merchandise. --But Wal-Mart's loss prevention officers spotted them and stopped the women as they tried to leave the store. And that's when Billie made things much, much worse. --To try to escape, she repeatedly swung her handheld baby carrier at the officers . . . with her three-week-old STILL IN IT. --One of the friends with her, 25-year-old Tayonda Durham, sprayed pepper spray at the officers while the third friend, 29-year-old Harlyn McBean, pulled up her 2005 Chevrolet Impala. --Between the swinging baby and the pepper spray, the women were all able to hop in the Impala and drive off. --The Wal-Mart officers called the real police officers with the license plate, and the cops were able to track down the car a few minutes later. --Besides the theft charges, Billie was charged with endangering the welfare of a child. (Syracuse Post Dispatch)

If you're the kind of person who's always getting into fistfights, here's a strategy to stop. And no, we won't recommend anger management or self-control. Come on. --41-year-old Wen Jian of the Fujian province of China has a solution that he used to stop himself from fighting: Never, ever cutting his nails. --Wen says, quote, "When I was young, I was very bad tempered. I was very aggressive and always getting into trouble. I decided to grow my nails" . . . because that way, he couldn't close his fist. (--Sure, he could scratch the hell out of someone, but that's not how MEN fight.) --His nails are all now incredibly long . . . his longest is 14 inches . . . and he has to sleep with his left hand in a shoebox to keep them from breaking. (Weird Asia News)

IS GETTING A GAP PUT IN YOUR TEETH *REALLY* THE NEW TREND?

If this is really a trend, why the hell did I suffer through braces when I was a kid? According to an article in the "Wall Street Journal", the newest trend is having a GAP put in between your front teeth like ANNA PAQUIN from "True Blood" or MADONNA. --Different fashion experts have theories on the trend. Some think people just want to look different to stand out . . . some think it's an "ugly" backlash against airbrushing in photos . . . and some think it's part of people wanting to look raw and authentic. (WSJ)

NAZZY’S SILLY VIDEOS OF THE DAY

#1.) HERE'S A CRAZY EYEWITNESS . . . AUTO-TUNED:

Last week, a woman in Kansas City, Missouri, gave a reporter a ridiculous eyewitness account of a robbery. And now the YouTube series "Auto-Tune The News" has turned it into a song called "Backin' Up".(--Search for "Auto-Tune The News Backin Up." The song starts at :08. Here's the Auto-Tuned version and the original.)

A Republican named PHIL DAVIDSON is running for the position of Treasurer in Stark County, Ohio, and on Wednesday night he gave a completely over-the-top speech. --This was the third try for Davidson, and for the third time, he DIDN'T get nominated . . . probably because he sounded more like a pro-wrestler than a politician. (--Search for "Phil Davidson treasurer speech.")

There's a new video online of a baby chimp riding a baby pig. And the piglet doesn't just walk around . . . it sprints. It seems like the chimp thinks the pig is its mother, because it falls off about halfway through and freaks out.(--Search for "baby monkey rides piglet." The monkey falls off at :41, and the pig goes through a fence at 1:23.)http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1941010

#4.) WANNA SEE LITTLE KIDS RE-ENACT "KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS"?

I know exactly what you're thinking this Friday: "Something's been missing from my week, but I can't quite put my finger on it." --Luckily we're here to help out. Because we know what that missing piece is: A video of little children reenacting the E! show "Keeping Up With The Kardashians". You're welcome.

THREE THINGS YOU SHOULD BUY AT TARGET . . . AND THREE THINGS YOU SHOULDN'T:

Yahoo's finance site has a list of things you should and shouldn't buy at Target. Here are the top three in each category. --First, here are the three things you SHOULDN'T buy at Target . . .

#1.) FURNITURE. According to Yahoo, the stuff at Ikea is usually cheaper and more stylish. Their bookshelves, chairs, and kitchen tables are better quality than what you'll find at Target.

#2.) MOVIES, MUSIC, AND BOOKS. Target can't beat the prices at Wal-Mart or Amazon.com. For example, the new KATY PERRY album sells for $13.99 at Target, but you can get it for $9 at Wal-Mart or $9.99 at Amazon.

#3.) EXERCISE EQUIPMENT. Most of what they sell at Target is the kind of stuff you see in late-night infomercials. If you already bought exercise equipment at Target, you might as well keep using it. --But if you're looking for NEW exercise equipment, you're better off going to a sporting goods store and spending a little extra.

--And now, three things you SHOULD buy at Target . . .

#1.) GREEN CLEANING PRODUCTS. Target has over 70 different kinds, which is way more than you'll find at the grocery store or Wal-Mart.

#2.) MAKE-UP. Target used to just carry cheap stuff, but they recently started getting more designer cosmetics. And it's actually a good place for some of the hard-to-find international brands.

#3.) GROCERIES. Target is trying to bounce back from the recession by expanding their selection of groceries and including meat, fruit, fresh produce, and baked goods.

--According to one research analyst, most Target stores now have about 70% of the stuff you'd find at a normal grocery store, but it costs about 10 to 20% less. (Yahoo.com)

THREE TIPS FOR DATING WHEN YOUR LIFE IS CONSUMED BY WORK:

If your job has a tendency to consume your life, getting out there and dating can become an afterthought. And the next thing you know, your sex life consists of whipping your junk out on Chatroulette. Or you're surrounded by cats. --So today, we've got three tips from Match.com to help you balance your professional life and your love life.

#1.) MAKE A PLAN. If you're always busy, you've got to use the little time you DO have wisely. So make a plan for meeting someone you'd be compatible with. --This could be anything from taking a new exercise class at your gym, to volunteering with an organization you're passionate about. That way, you increase your chance of finding someone with similar interests, AND you're doing something you like.

#2.) LEARN TO SAY NO. Instead of taking on new work projects all the time, look for opportunities where you can realistically turn them down. You don't want to say no TOO often, but every once in a while, you need to take some time out for yourself.

#3.) DON'T STOP MOVING. Most people get into a routine of heading straight home after work, parking their butt in front of the TV, and zoning out for the rest of the night. But obviously you'll never meet anyone new that way. -So, make a point of going out after work a couple times a week, whether it's happy hour with co-workers, or dinner with your friends. That way you get out of the house, and it gives you something to look forward to when you're stuck in the daily grind. --Plus, you might meet someone new. Which is the whole point in the first place. (Match.com)

SITE FOR SORE EYES:

www.SniqueAway.com

The folks at Smarter Travel/Trip Advisor have launched a new online booking site that allows you to reserve A-list hotels and resorts at discount rates – by invitation only. Luxury hotels don’t like to advertise low rates because they think it cheapens their image. All hotels featured on SniqueAway have earned a minimum four-star rating classification and a minimum four out of five TripAdvisor review rating. On SniqueAway, TripAdvisor hotel reviews are shown alongside members-only offers, providing trusted traveler opinions of the hotels. Anyone who registers is invited – and don’t worry – it’s free.

LIFESTYLES:

Top 2010 Summer Songs

Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” featuring Snoop Dogg tops Billboard’s Songs of Summer 2010 survey, giving the singer her second Songs of Summer chart champion thanks to 2008’s “I Kissed a Girl.” Perry is only the second artist with two top placements as a lead act in the last 25 years. Mariah Carey won in 1990 with “Vision of Love” and 2005 with “We Belong Together.” Jay-Z has sat atop two Songs of Summer charts as a featured artist, on Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love” (2003) and Rihanna’s “Umbrella” (2007). Perry is also the only artist to rank on the last three Songs of Summer countdowns. In addition to leading the list this year and in 2008, she placed at No. 10 last year with “Waking Up in Vegas.” The top 10 Songs of Summer 2010:

Soles4Souls, the shoe charity that gives away free shoes to people in need, is running out of shoes. The non-profit organization has responded aggressively to the many natural disasters around the world and has nearly depleted its stock of both new and gently worn shoes. Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of the charity, is sending out a plea for help. Elsey said supporters can create their own neighborhood shoe drives, network with their friends (school, church, gym, or Facebook) to create a community event, or simply clean out their own closet and send the shoes to the closest collection point; locations are listed at www.giveshoes.org. Soles4Souls does not throw out any footwear it receives. If any donated shoes are unusable, the charity recycles the footwear into materials used for playgrounds, insulation and other uses.

Best Online Gaming Food

What you eat while playing online can make a big difference, according to Casino.com. Eating Buffalo wings or sloppy Joes while you click on your mouse can get pretty messy. Finger foods like sandwiches or sushi are a popular choice, but still a favorite. Casino.com asked their players to list the top five stay-at-home gaming foods. The No. 1 choice was pizza. Surprisingly, instant noodles came in second, followed by potato chips, beer and chicken nuggets.______________________________________________

What Would You Ditch To Watch The Big Game?

The 2010 Dave & Buster’s College Football Survey reveals that nearly half of respondents would skip out on date night to watch their team play. But playing hooky didn’t stop there – nearly half would miss work, while 17% would ditch a family wedding! The survey also revealed:

· In order to watch every game without hassle from friends and family, more than half of Americans would sacrifice their morning cup of coffee.· One out of four people confessed they would ditch a friend’s birthday party to watch the game.

Which TV Boss Do You Work For?

In honor of Monday’s Employee/Boss Exchange Day, a new survey has found the boss and employee relationship can be a complex partnership. According to a new CareerBuilder survey, nearly one-third (31%) said they feel they can do the job of their boss better, while 60% said they don’t feel that their boss could do their job. The survey also asked which TV show boss reminds them most of their own, good or bad. The top 10 include:

· Jacob from “Lost” – You’re never really sure where he is, what he wants and what he has in store for you.· Judge Judy from “Judge Judy” – No nonsense and fair when making decisions.· MacGyver from “MacGyver” – Resourceful and can fix any situation.· Jack Donaghy from “30 Rock” – Likeable and a corporate guy through and through.· Oprah Winfrey from “Oprah” – Very influential and informative.· Simon Cowell from “American Idol” – Judgmental and insulting.· MacGruber from “Saturday Night Live” – Terrible with managing projects and deadlines.· Michael Scott from “The Office” – Bumbling and idiotic.· Leslie Knope from “Parks and Recreation” – Believes her job is more important than it probably is.· Donald Trump from “The Apprentice” – Demanding and powerful.